3 things that could have happened if Adam Copeland had still been a part of WWE

Adam Copeland had his thriving wrestling career cut short in 2011 due to serious neck issues. He stayed away from the squared circle for nine long years before making his return to WWE as a surprise entrant in the 2020 Royal Rumble match, which became a memorable moment. That night marked the resurgence of The Rated-R superstar in the global juggernaut that lasted for the next three years.

After wrestling top stars of the new generation and having a remarkable second coming, Cope left WWE and signed with rival promotion AEW, making his debut at the 2023 WrestleDream pay-per-view. Since then, he has been a cornerstone for the Jacksonville-based promotion, winning championships, and even reunited with his longtime partner, Christian Cage.

However, it would have been a completely different scenario had Cope stayed in WWE. Here are three things that could have happened if Adam Copeland had still been a part of the WWE roster today, including a final showdown with one of his storied rivals.

#3. Worked with the top rising talent of the WWE NXT roster

During his second tenure in WWE, Adam Copeland had the chance to work with some of the former NXT graduates like Finn Balor and even made appearances in the developmental territory. However, he did not have a signficant match against members of the then-NXT roster. Had he chosen to stay with his previous company, the scenario might have been different in that aspect. The WWE Hall of Famer could have had the opportunity to work with top talents like Je’Von Evans, Ricky Saints, and even his fellow Canadian and top NXT star, Ethan Page. Moreover, the up-and-coming stars would also benefit from sharing the ring and on-screen space with a veteran like Adam Copeland to further their promising WWE careers.

#2. One final run as WWE World Champion

Ever since Adam Copeland made his debut in AEW, he had been kept away from the World Championship picture. The WWE legend finally got the opportunity against Jon Moxley in 2025, two years after his debut in the company, which was a brief program. At the same time, Cope was inserted into the World Championship program a year after his return in 2020. He remained in the title picture for a while before moving on to his final feuds in the company. Had he still been a part of the WWE roster today, the Stamford-based might have finally given him a much-deserved last run as World Champion before he would finally hang up his boots for good.

#1. Final showdown with his storied rival John Cena

The one thing that would have potentially happened had Adam Copeland still been a part of WWE today would have been a final showdown with arguably his greatest WWE rival of all time, John Cena. Ever since The Never Seen 17 began his farewell tour, fans have been rallying about a potential match, despite Cope being a part of AEW. Moreover, a recent update stated that the match was never discussed or brought up in any conversation. However, if Cope had stayed in the Stamford-based promotion, the fans would have possibly witnessed the dream match one last time.